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The Sorcerer
The Sorcerer poster with J. W. Wells (1884 revival).jpg
Poster for the 1884 revival
Written by W. S. Gilbert (words)
Arthur Sullivan (music)
Characters John Wellington Wells
Date of premiere 17 November 1877
Place of premiere Opera Comique
London, England
Original language English
Genre Operetta
Setting England

The Sorcerer is a fun and magical operetta created by Gilbert and Sullivan. It was their third operetta together, and it first opened in London at the Opera Comique on November 17, 1877. The show was very popular and ran for 178 performances. This story is all about what happens when a special love potion affects everyone in a quiet English village.

What is an Operetta?

An operetta is like a musical play that mixes singing, acting, and dancing. It's often lighter and funnier than a serious opera. Operettas usually have spoken parts, catchy songs, and a happy ending. Gilbert and Sullivan were famous for making these kinds of shows.

Meet Gilbert and Sullivan

The Creative Duo

W. S. Gilbert wrote the words, or the "libretto," for the operettas. He was known for his clever and funny stories. His lyrics often made fun of society and politics in a lighthearted way.

Arthur Sullivan composed the music. He was a brilliant musician who wrote beautiful and memorable tunes. Together, their words and music fit perfectly, making their shows very special. They created 14 operettas in total.

The Story of The Sorcerer

A Love Potion Goes Wrong

The story begins with a young man named Alexis. He is deeply in love with Aline and wants everyone in the world to feel the same joy. He believes that love should be for everyone.

To make his dream come true, Alexis hires a sorcerer named John Wellington Wells. This sorcerer sells a powerful love potion. Alexis plans to put the potion into a teapot and serve it to everyone in the village.

Unexpected Matches

When the villagers drink the potion, they fall in love with the first person they see. But there's a problem! The potion makes people fall for the wrong person. For example, an old lady falls for a young man, and a rich woman falls for a poor servant.

This creates a lot of funny and confusing situations. Everyone is suddenly in love with someone they never expected. The village becomes a chaotic place filled with mismatched couples.

How to Break the Spell

Alexis and Aline realize they have made a big mistake. The only way to fix everything is for the sorcerer, John Wellington Wells, to sacrifice himself. He must either die or be trapped in the spirit world forever.

In the end, John Wellington Wells agrees to disappear. This breaks the spell, and everyone returns to their original loves. The village goes back to normal, but they will never forget the day of the love potion.

Main Characters

  • John Wellington Wells: The clever sorcerer who sells the love potion.
  • Alexis: A young, romantic man who wants everyone to be in love.
  • Aline: Alexis's true love, who tries to help fix the mess.
  • Dr. Daly: The kind village vicar, who also gets caught in the potion's effects.
  • Lady Sangazure: An older lady who falls for an unexpected person.

Why is The Sorcerer Important?

The Sorcerer was a big step for Gilbert and Sullivan. It was their first full-length operetta. It showed that they could create a complete story with a strong plot and memorable songs. It helped them become very famous and led to many more successful shows. The operetta is still performed today because its story about love and magic is timeless.

Images for kids

  • Sorctrial

    1878 programme cover

  • Sir Marmaduke (Richard Temple) and Lady Sangazure (Mrs. Howard Paul) in The Sorceror, 1877

    Richard Temple with Mrs Howard Paul in The Sorcerer (1877)

  • Drawing of Incantation Scene

    Incantation scene

  • Sorcerer program 1884

    Act II opening, from 1884 programme

  • Egriffin

    Henry Lytton (J. W. Wells), Elsie Griffin (Aline) and Derek Oldham (Alexis), 1920

  • Dorasdrm2

    From 1877 programme

  • Brock-sorcerer-1919

    Poster by H. M. Brock for the 1919 revival

  • Walter Passmore as J. W. Wells (1898)

    Walter Passmore as J. W. Wells in the 1898 revival

  • Flageolet ébène, argent et nacre

    Dr Daly accompanies himself on a flageolet on stage

  • The Sorcerer poster with Marmaduke and Sangazure (1884 revival) cropped

    "Welcome, joy, adieu to sadness!"

  • Sketch of J. W. Wells

    Grossmith as J. W. Wells, his first of many "patter roles". Sketch by W. S. Gilbert

  • Rutland Barrington as Dr. Daly in The Sorceror

    Rutland Barrington as Dr Daly

  • Bond constance1884

    Bond, as Constance, pines for Dr Daly, 1884

  • Alice-may-george-bentham-sorcerer

    Warwick and Bentham, 1878, after Warwick took over the role of Aline

  • 1887SorcererRuddigoreWallpaper

    Wallpaper showing characters from The Sorcerer and other Savoy operas

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